Grow lights, like the Roleadro LED 75W Grow Light, extend your growing period from a few months to year-round. They give off the red and blue light plants need to photosynthesize and grow. Not all grow lights are made the same, however. Some work for potted plants and fruits, while others are designed as semi-permanent light sources for seed trays. We wanted to see if the Roleadro’s panel design would benefit our seedlings more than a single- or dual-head gooseneck model. Keep reading to get our take on this inexpensive grow light and how you can use it to get your next batch of seedlings moving.
Setup Process: Placement is tricky
The Roleadro comes with four stainless steel wires and a carabiner you can use to attach it to a hook, rod, or dowel. The grow light doesn’t come with a hook or hanging rod, however, which meant we had to get creative. We have a greenhouse, but hanging hooks aren’t standard fare, so we tried it out in our kitchen, instead, and found it could be hung from the knob of a cupboard or from a ceiling fan. Since it hangs near eye level, we just had to be careful maneuvering around it. We had no problem attaching the wires to the panel, and they were already connected to the carabiner. The wires are of equal length, and as long as the hooks are straight, the panel hangs evenly. Prior to hanging it, however, you should research the cycle of your plant to find the appropriate distance it should be from the light. Once you have the Roleadro in place, you can leave it there as long as it’s not in the way of your day-to-day activities. After looking for additional info online, we found that Roleadro suggests the light be hung between 12 and 48 inches above the plant, depending on the specific plant and its life stage. For seedlings, it recommends 24 to 36 inches and 12 to 14 hours of light a day. For the vegetative state, it recommends 18 to 24 inches and 14 to 16 hours. Finally, for plants in the flowering stage, Roleadro recommends 8 to 12 inches and 14 to 18 hours.
Design: Just missing a timer
One issue that frequently comes up when discussing grow lights is where to put them. On one hand, the Roleadro doesn’t take up any extra floor or counter space. But on the other hand, you do have to find a suitable place to hang it. The Roleadro Grow Light measures 10.9 x 10.9 inches and weighs roughly 2 pounds. The bulbs are housed in an aluminum casing, which is lightweight and heat resistant, making it the ideal material for a grow light. In terms of safety, the Roleadro LED 75W Grow Light has been certified by the FCC, CE, ROHS, and PSE for use with indoor plants, hydroponics, and greenhouses. The panel houses 169 red and blue LED lights (specifically 117 red and 52 blue). The red light helps plants produce flowers and fruits while the blue light stimulates stalk and leaf growth. The panel’s mix of colored light makes it a great light source for young and mature plants. The only real design flaw we encountered was the lack of an automatic timer. Plants don’t need light 24/7 so it’s important you track how long the light has been on and turn it off at some point to make sure they aren’t overexposed. We wish the light had a built-in timer so we could set it and forget it instead of having to manually turn it off and on.
Performance: Great light distribution for struggling seedlings
Panel grow lights like the Roleadro aren’t designed for every growing situation. We used it for 12 hours at a time on potted plants, namely some African violets and succulents. They did well and looked healthy, but the panel is large enough that it provided more light than they really needed. Seed trays, however, are another matter. There’s something satisfying about planting seeds then watching them germinate and mature from a tiny seed into a full-grown producing plant. This process can be tricky, though; germinating seeds need to be kept moist, but they’re also sensitive to heat. In the past, we’ve tried to mature seedlings in a greenhouse, but the lid—which is used primarily to lock in moisture—also trapped heat and cause them to die. We’ve also tried moving our seedlings indoors to a temperature-controlled environment until they were strong enough for the heat, but we live in a cloudy, moderate climate and our house lacks the light they desperately need when they first break the surface. This led to them sprouting and reaching for light so quickly that the stalks got taller than they could support. Consequently, they tipped over as they weren’t strong enough to support themselves. This is why we were excited to try out the Roleadro—we can keep them in a temperature-controlled environment that also has the light they need for successful germination. In our test, the grow light gave our seedlings ample nourishment early on, so they didn’t outpace themselves. The light also proved to be the perfect size for a standard seed tray. It distributes light evenly so each seedling gets an equal share of light.
Price: Reasonable price for a lightweight panel
The Roleadro costs roughly $30. If you’ve tried to mature seedlings both indoors and out and to no avail, it’s a small price to pay for success.
Competition: Ahead of the game for seedlings
PPUNSON Dual Head UV & IR LED Grow Light: With its dual lights, the $24 PPUNSON Grow Light is capable of getting one or two seeds growing but certainly not a whole tray. If you’re not working with seedlings, though, and just want to show your potted plants some love, it’s hard to beat the grow light’s timer and multiple light settings. Aceple LED 6W Desk Plant Grow Light: Much like the PPUNSON, the Aceple is best for mature potted plants. With a clamp and gooseneck arm as well as red and blue light, you can position it to your liking and stimulate your plant’s flower, stalk, and leaf growth. While the light has an MSRP of $36, you can often find it on sale for $15 or less. The Roleadro works beautifully with seedling trays and large groups of plants. If you’re just looking to revive a single potted plant, though, you can get away with a smaller gooseneck light.
